The smell of cooking hung richly in the air as Count Bleck waited in his presence chamber for news from Nastasia. The disruption of the ritual had caused problems in that the Turtle King was loose in the Castle, but Dimentio had intercepted him and dealt with him for now. However, the Princess had managed to escape her captors, who in this case were the Goombas and Koopas which had made up the King's entourage, and had not been seen since. Nastasia had had to brainwash many, but there were some who volunteered to join Bleck and his host freely, hoping in the chaos they would not be noticed by their King.
The most important part was complete. The Chaos Heart was now in existence and the Void, which Castle Bleck sat in, was now spreading to the dimensions nearest its epicenter. But the ritual had been disrupted by that young oaf who called himself Luigi, when in a misguided attempt to save the Princess, leapt onto the alter and stamped on the newly-formed Chaos Heart. This meant the delicate magic checks and balances needed to control the growth of the Void, were thrown into disarray. Still, he sighed, it meant nothing, as he thought that despite his mastery of dimensional magical arts, he would never see his beloved again, despite the hundreds of years he had been searching. These days, it was the love of his minions and the faint glimmer of hope which would never truly leave him that kept him going. It was as his father said, the Dark Prognosticus grants immense power, but its host will never know true happiness for as long as they own it.
He remembered the dreadful day when he heard that his love, Timpani had been banished, not just from the Kingdom but from their home dimension.
"Father! Why did you do this?"
"You know very well that we of the Tribe of Darkness are few and becoming fewer - we cannot marry those who are not of us. Transgression cannot be tolerated. It is for your own good son!"
"I don't care about that! I love her and without her life is pointless. WHERE IS SHE!"
"She is gone now. You must accept that!"
"NEVER!"
"Blumiere! Where are you going - that is my private closet - all are forbidden other than me, it is dangerous to go there! Do not underestimate the powers of the wards I have placed there!"
"I DON'T CARE! IT IS THE ONLY WAY!"
"NO! You cannot mean - THE DARK PROGNOSTICUS! NO PLEASE NOT THAT!"
"Father I must, it is the only chance I have to find her! If I must do that to the day that all worlds end I will do that! I have learnt to subvert your wards for months! You have been a good teacher-"
"NO! BLUMIERE! It will take control of you if you use it for yourself! You might as well be dead. It corrupts and forces any who claim to master it for themselves for its own ends! You are not ready for it's full power, you have only just learnt to tap it!"
"I must! And now Blumiere is no more! I will be known as Count Bleck!"
With a CRACK, the young man disappeared with the Dark Prognosticus, never to be seen again.
"BLUMIERE! He's gone!"
The king's face glazed in shock as he looked around the now deserted closet, the reliquary where the Dark Prognosticus had sat gaping at him like a wound. He sank to the ground and tore his robes. ,
"I HAVE NO SON! HE IS NO MORE!"
Bleck shook his head. Get a hold of yourself, introspection will get you nowhere! He took a breath and walked around the chamber. He recalled that the Dark Prognosticus told of the Man in Green who could use the power of the Chaos Heart to bring darkness to all. He was described as one who shuns the light of scrutiny, that others see as a a timid coward, but has a yearning for recognition. It went on to say he has access to knowledge and powers which few understand and which make them fear him more. Further to that, those who wish to seek him will spot him as he will be the one who does the one thing that people do not consider in times of peril.
He looked at the copy of the illuminated manuscript and wondered if this would be the time he would meet this Man in Green.
O'Chunks burst in to the chamber "Count! Nastasia is coming!" The Count leapt to his feet and tried to stop the surge of excitement showing on his face. He sat in his chair and faced the doorway.
A small group of converted Goombas and Koopas were present with Nastasia. So was the same young man in green who disrupted the wedding. Nastasia had put a partial lock on him so he could still walk and was awkwardly, but firmly in the hands of two Koopa Troopas.
Count Bleck inwardly groaned for this youth did not look particularly prepossessing. He was taller than the Count and had the build of someone with a physical occupation, well muscled and athletic. However, he had a hunted look about him as if he was used to expecting, and indeed receiving the worse that could happen.
He wore clothes of a style Count Bleck was not familiar with but were clearly the clothes of a labourer, a green shirt and a pair of blue twill trousers with a bib and straps and a pair of shoes with vaguely resembled clogs. He also wore a peaked cap with an "L" monogram. But then Count Bleck caught sight of the illustration on his papers on the Man in Green. This illustration showed the Man in Green dressed in the clothes of 1500 years ago from Count Bleck's home dimension but the match between his face and moustache was uncanny. Anticipation surged within him - perhaps it is him!
"Nastasia, leave us and wait outside with the soldiers" Count Bleck commanded.
"But Count, he resisted capture! Are you sure you will be safe?"
"You have your orders." The Count said coldly.
He beckoned the man to have a seat opposite the desk at which he sat after placing the papers in the draw. How best to phrase this?
"First of all I apologize for any rough treatment. We are in a state of flux right now. Your name is Luigi, right?"
The man nodded dully. It occurred to Count Bleck that Nastasia's block was in operation. He gestured and the man flinched.
"There, sorry about that, this is a time of great danger. My assistant placed that on you as a precaution but it is not necessary."
Anxiety and confusion rippled across the man's face on removing the block. He gabbled nervously.
"Where's Mario? And the Princess?" Said Luigi.
"They are not important right now. Right now you are the most important person in this room." Said Count Bleck.
"Urrhh how? I really need to find my friends and go home, today's been crazy-"
"Do you know where you are?" Interrupted Count Bleck.
"No, I just want to get my friends and go home-"
"You are in Castle Bleck, an outpost in the Void which will consume all worlds as time goes on if it is not stopped and controlled. It was predicted that you would be sent here to aid me in controlling the void in your capacity as the Angel of Chaos".
"WHAT?! I'm not an angel I'm a plumber!" Luigi exclaimed.
"It does not matter what you do for a living." Count Bleck explained "You are mentioned in prophecy in that you have an affinity for Chaos and the powers within. Come, you look tired and hungry and dinner is served."
Count Bleck pulled back a thick drape to reveal a table set for two.
"Wine?"
"Uh no thanks. Do you have coffee?" Said Luigi. "Of course."
Count Bleck started eating the soup. Luigi hesitated, but mindful of the fact he couldn't remember when breakfast was he started eating.
"The best way to help your friends is to join me."
"But you kidnapped the Princess! And were helping Bowser! Why should I trust you?"
"They were necessary to get me to you. I can see you are someone with integrity who will not be swayed with just a simple offer of power. I like that. I need you as you are the key in preventing the Void from consuming everything."
They ate in silence after a simple course of roast meat was presented.
Angel of Chaos, Luigi thought. What is going on? Where are my friends? Where is Mario and what would he do?
"So what do I have to do to get my friends and stop the Void?" Luigi asked.
"You will need to join with me and master the power of the Chaos heart to fight those who are opposed to our plans to control the Void." Count Bleck explained.
"Who wants to stop the expansion of the Void and the destruction of all worlds? This is confusing me! Surely my friends would be the best people to stop the Void!" Luigi exclaimed.
"You misunderstand. We cannot stop the Void, only control it. The power of the Chaos Heart is immense and if you join with me as my Man in Green we can do this together!"
Count Bleck sighed. He found himself becoming frustrated - this would not be easy as it did not seem that this man would be bought.
"What about my friends? You haven't answered that question! You say we cannot stop the void, but with us and the power of my friends I am sure we can!" Luigi said with passion.
Count Bleck said nothing, but Luigi saw his face twitch, like a wave of pain had passed over. Count Bleck placed his cutlery on the plate and fixed Luigi with a cold stare.
"Your friends cannot help us in our aim. What I am offering you is no more than part of a new Universe free from the strife and misery which marrs this one. Your own set of worlds to shape and to rule as you like! If you join with me you shall have power and the recognition you so want from this life!"
Luigi stood up. "If joining you means abandoning my friends I cannot do it. I know there are bad things in this world, but there is a lot of good too. Can you really say you are going to destroy everybody because bad things happen?"
Count Bleck flushed with anger - this sounded like he was going to reject his offer! This cannot happen - the Man in Green would be the one who stands against the Man in Red and bring darkness to all! But then, it would be in character for the Man in Green, after all he stamped on the Chaos Heart, causing the Count to lose control of the Void. Now he was repudiating the Count in his own domain! He felt himself get warm with anger.
"So you are telling me that you are rejecting my offer? That you have no wish to help me control the Void?" He felt his voice cracking, the rage seeping through. "If you are not with me, you stand against me. You are a fool to repudiate your destiny as what will come will come, as it is written in the Prognosticus!"
Luigi went white with fear. He swallowed hard. "I-I'm sorry Count, I can't do this, I can't leave my friends and see everyone get destroyed. Now, please can I go home?"
The Count rose to his feet and sighed "Luigi, you do not understand. You do not have a choice, you are the Man in Green, the Angel of Chaos as laid out in the Prognosticus! I was offering the chance for you to join us willingly. You will join us eventually, it is just that other means of getting you to collaborate will be less pleasant."
Luigi sat down hard, as it seemed his legs couldn't support him. "Wh- What do you mean by that?!"
"Oh I am sure you will find out" Bleck said in a low voice. He made a gesture and said "Nastasia, take the escort you have with you now and bring him to Dimentio!".
The door opened and the Goombas and Troopas took him by the arms. "What's going on? Help me someone!" Luigi shouted as he was lead out by the soldiers. The door shut and the Count was left alone. He went over to one of the drawers and drew out an elaborately embroidered piece of fabric - a Cloth of Estate like the one which was hung over the top of his chair as a canopy when he was at his desk, or in the Inner Sanctum when presiding over his Court. His was a deep royal blue with stars picked out in gold and silver surrounding gemstones. This one was black silk with complicated fractal ferns and clouds picked out in green silk and silver thread, with green eight-pointed stars along the edges.
He summoned one of the Koopa servants and said. "Take this to the incinerator, I have no use for this now."